I HAVE been intrigued by local announcements of forthcoming events described as fayre. Village fayre, church fayre, Christmas fayre etc.

I have several dictionaries but none of them seem to admit the existence of such a word.

Is this substitute for fair a bit of Wiltshire whimsy which has not come to the notice of lexicographers?

I was interested to note recently the village of Wilcot kept its options open. If you entered one way, you were told about a fayre but entering in the opposite direction you were invited to a fair.

BERNARD LEWIS

Stanton St Bernard

Marlborough